What red light therapy means for your teeth and eyes

Posted on December 4, 2025 in Healthy You

Red light therapy is gaining attention as a wellness trend with claims that it can improve everything from skin health to joint pain. Red light therapy may also offer benefits for your oral and vision health. But before you spend money on pricey devices or professional treatments, it’s helpful to understand what the research shows — and what it doesn’t.

What is red light therapy?

Red light therapy uses low levels of red or near-infrared light to stimulate your cells. Unlike ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun, red light doesn’t burn your skin. Instead, it penetrates deep into your tissues, and researchers believe it may help reduce inflammation, speed healing and improve circulation.

Possible benefits for oral health

Some early research suggests red light therapy may have positive benefits in your mouth, particularly when it is used by professionals.

• Pain relief: Red light therapy may reduce mouth and jaw pain.
• Faster healing: It may help mouth tissues heal more quickly after mouth surgery or other dental procedures.
• Reduced inflammation: By calming inflammation, it may help manage gum disease or mouth ulcers.¹

While promising, these benefits are not guaranteed. Most studies are small, and red light therapy is typically used with traditional dental care (not as a replacement).

Potential benefits for vision health

In eye care, red light therapy has been studied as a way to support aging eyes.

• Improved retinal function: Some research shows that red light may help improve retinal cell function, particularly in older adults.
• Possible slowing of age-related decline: Early findings suggest red light therapy might play a role in protecting vision as people age.^{2, 3}

Still, red light therapy is not a firmly established treatment for eye diseases like glaucoma, cataracts or macular degeneration. More large-scale, long-term studies are needed to really understand this treatment.

Drawbacks and risks

Like many emerging therapies, several questions surround red light therapy. While research is growing, it’s not yet clear how effective red light therapy truly is for oral or vision health. Devices and treatments can be expensive, and insurance often doesn’t cover them, so knowing that a treatment is effective is important before you spend your money on it.

Although red light therapy is generally safe when given by a professional, improper use of at-home devices, especially near your eyes, may cause harm.

Talk to your provider about safe treatments

Red light therapy shows promise for both oral and vision health, but it’s not a magic fix or a replacement for brushing, flossing, regular dental visits or professional eye care. Your oral and vision health rely most on proven basics: daily care routines, healthy lifestyle choices and regular checkups.

If you’re curious about red light therapy, talk to your dentist or eye specialist before starting treatment to ensure it’s safe for you.

If it’s been awhile since you’ve seen a dentist or eye doctor, get an appointment scheduled today. You can easily find an in-network Delta Dental dentist or DeltaVision provider near you with our online Find a Provider tool.

REFERENCES:

1. Perio-Implant Advisory

2. Macular Degeneration Research

3. National Library of Medicine

SOURCES:

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

The University of Texas MD Anderson Center